Read Like a Nighttime Ninja: Developing Beginning Reading Skills

In this one-time class, beginning readers will read a short ninja story, "Nightime Ninja" by Barbara DaCosta, from which students will demonstrate understanding of the central message, describe the setting, major events, and characters. Additionally, students will develop vocabulary, and practice reading comprehension. 

First, students will pretend to turn into ninjas, as we prepare for our reading adventure! We will then use text features to predict if the text will tell a story (narrative) or give information (informational). Next, the teacher will read the text to the students as they “secretly spy” on unknown words and discuss their meanings.  These vocabulary words will be defined and demonstrated, and students will participate in physically doing them. (for example: clambered, leapt, crept, knelt, thundered) Students will also answer questions about key details throughout the text. Next, students will complete a storyboard and discuss the characters, setting, and major events. Finally, students will do a choral reading, adding ninja moves to match the story line and discuss the central message. 

Expect your learner to be actively learning, they will be out of their seats at times, and may be creeping, crawling and moving around the room. This is a great class for students that are full of energy, reading, or have an interest in learning to read.